National Wildlife Refuges

The National Wildlife Refuge System is the largest land and water system in the world dedicated to wildlife conservation.

It includes over 560 refuges and approximately 150 million acres. The system protects more than 380 threatened or endangered plants and animals, and provides habitat to thousands more. Refuges host more than 47 million visitors a year, generating $1.7 billion and creating 27,000 jobs in local economies.

Despite its crucial role as an anchor for America’s wildlife conservation, outdoor recreation opportunities and economic activity, the Refuge System has long been plagued by chronic and severe funding shortfalls and numerous legislative attacks on both individual refuges like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Izembek Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and the system as a whole.